Combination washer and buffer



Oct. 22, 1968 c. L. NILES ETAL 3,406,417 COMBINATION WASHER AND BUFFER Filed Dec. 20. 1966 INVENTORS. WHYNE' M N/LES I ,1] 62/5 4. N/LE;

|I I I 23 United States Patent 3,406,417 COMBINATION WASHER AND BUFFER Cris L. Niles and Wayne M. Niles, Westminster, Calif. (both of R0. Box 293, Midway City, Calif. 92655) Filed Dec. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 603,291 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-4) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention pertains to a combination washer and buffer for walls and ceilings of a room.

It is characterized by having a housing, one end of which is bifurcated to provide a pair of support arms, a cylindrical washer member being rotatably mounted between such arms. Power transmission means from a source of power is operable within the houisng to rotate such washer member.

There is also provided a buffer element on one of the arms for rotation by the power transmission means. Such buffer element is removable to expose the washer member for use.

The present invention relates generally to combination washer and buffer apparatus and, more particularly, to portable apparatus of such nature for washing and buffing ceilings, walls and other remote surfaces.

In order to properly recondition walls or ceilings, it is frequently necessary to wash and buff them to provide the desired appearance. This is particularly so with woodpaneled walls and ceilings which are prevalent in housetrailers, offices and the like. Here it is desirable to wash the paneling with suitable wax base solutions to remove all foreign material. Thereafter, it is desirable to buff such surface to bring out the desired gloss and general appearance.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to perform the intended operation by hand or to employ several different apparatuses. It has been felt for a considerable period of time that a single unit would be desirable, which unit could both clean and buff the walls and ceiling as desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination washing and bufiing apparatus which is transportable for use in virtually any location.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination washing and bufiing apparatus as characterized above which comprises an elongated housing which carries a washer member and to which can be attached uitable buffers.

A further object of the present invention isto provide a combination washing and buffing apparatus as characterized above having suitable power transmission means for carrying power to the washer member and to the buffers whenever the latter are employed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a combination washing and bufling apparatus as characterized above which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is rugged and dependable in operation.

The novel features which we consider characteristic of our invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The device itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of such Patented Oct. 22, 1968 apparatus, taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along line 4--4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along line 77 of FIGURE 6.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein a preferred embodiment 10 of the present invention. Such embodiment comprises an elongated housing 12 having an enlarged end portion 13, which houses suitable motive power means (not shown). Such source may be an electric motor with suitable lead wires 15 employed therewith to provide electrical energy thereto. In any event, such motive power means or source of power provides a rotatable shaft whereon a gear member 18 is provided for powering or driving the subject apparatus.

The other end of housing 12 is bifurcated to provide a pair of relatively parallel housing arms 14 and 16. It has been found most desirable to form such housing of plastic or relatively light material such as aluminum and, as will hereinafter become more apparent, tubular members can be employed to advantage. The length of housing 12 is determined by the approximate distance between the user of the apparatus and the surface to be washed and buffed.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the drive gear 18 cooperates with a pair of gear members 20 and 22, both of which are rotatably mounted on a bracket 24.

A flexible cable 26 is secured to gear member 20 and a flexible cable 28 is secured to gear 22.

The cables 26 and 28 extend through the intermediate portion 17 of housing 12. Thereafter, the cable 26 extends through the housing arm 14 and the cable 28 extends through the housing arm 16 of the bifurcated end portion of the apparatus.

Mounted on the end of arm 14 is an enclosure 30. A set screw 32 threadedly positioned in enclosure for engagement with the upper end of arm 14 is provided to properly connect such members.

Enclosure 30 is provided with a through vertical opening the lower end portion of which is enlarged as at 30a. The upper end of arm 14 is positioned therein as shown in FIGURE 2.

The upper end of enclosure 38 is also enlarged as at 30b to receive a bearing member 34 which is connected to the end of cable 26 by a set screw 36. Such bearing member is generally cylindrical in shape to rotate freely within the enlarged cylindrical portion 30b of the through opening in enclosure 30.

The intermediate portion of enclosure 30 is provided with a transverse opening 300 and a reduced longitudinal opening 30d. A worm gear 38 is secured to flexible cable 26 for cooperation with a worm wheel 40 which is attached to or formed integrally with a rotatable shaft 42. The end portion 42a of such shaft extends within a cylindrical cutout in enclosure 30 toafford a bearing surface therefor. A bearing member 44 is secured to shaft 42 as by welding or the like to fit within the transverse opening Site of enclosure 30.

Mounted on shaft 42 is a cylindrical washing member 46 as by welding or the like. Such washing member may comprise tubular member 48 and a relatively soft washing element 50 thereon. The washing element is operable to engage a flat surface to be cleaned such that the rotation of the washing member effectively cleans the surface.

The opposite end 42b of shaft 42 fits within a bearing member 52 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings. The end 42b of shaft 42 is thereby suitably journalled relative to the arm 16, the drive means for cylindrical cleaning member 46 originating only in arm 14. The bearing member 52 is secured to arm 16 by a set screw as shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

Bearing member 52 is formed with a cutout 52a which enables the end 42b to be disengaged from such bearing member to enable the entire washing member 46 to be removed and replaced if desired. To retain such washing member 46 in assembled relation to housing 12, a retaining sleeve 56 is employed on housing 52. Such sleeve is formed with a cutout 56a enabling such sleeve to fit over the slot 52a and around the end 4211 of shaft 42 while the washing member 46 is in Operating position. A ball 58 biased by a compression spring 60 positioned in bearing member 52, as shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, cooperates to retain sleeve 56 in operating position.

As will be hereinafter explained in further detail, to effect complete removal of the washing element 46 from the apparatus, the upper end portion of arm 14 is formed with a slot 14a for receiving the aforementioned set screw 32. Such slot enables the enclosure member 30 to be pivoted on the end of arm 14.

As shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, a bearing member 62 of cylindrical construction similar to the aforementioned cylindrical bearing member 34 is provided within a suitable opening in bearing member 52. Such bearing member 62 is firmly secured to the flexible cable 28 which extends upwardly through arm 16.

Detachably mounted on each of the cylindrical bearing members 34 and 62 is a buffer 64-. Each such buffer comprises a lower connection link 66 and an upper connection link 68 which are interconnected by a universal joint 70. The lower end 66a of link 66 is generally square in cross section to fit within a complementally shaped opening 34a of bearing member 34. It is well realized that rather than a square configuration for such end portion 66a, any suitable configuration could be provided if an extension or relatively flat spot is provided thereon to insure that rotation of bearing member 34 effects corresponding rotation of link 66.

A ball 72, under the biasing force of compression spring 74, cooperates with a detent in bearing member 34 to retain such link in its assembled position.

Universal joint 70 may take substantially any desired form but is shown in the drawings as comprising a block 76 which engages a pair of depending tabs 78 and 80 from link 68 at opposite side walls of block 76. Corresponding tabs (not shown in detail) extend upwardly from the lower link 66 and rotatably engage said block 76 at its other opposite side walls. In this manner, there is provided a universal connection such that the upper link 68 can assume any angular position relative to the lower link 66.

Buffer 64 further comprises a plate 82 having a fiat surface 82a which carries buffing material 84. The upper end 68a of link 68 is non-rotatably secured to plate 8-2 so that rotation of links 66 and 68 effects rotation of plate 82. A compression spring 86 is interposed between plate 82 and the upper end of enclosure 30, a retainer 88 being employed to insure that said spring 86 remains part of buffer 64. Such compression spring urges plate 82 and buffing surface 84 to a given optimum position.

When it is desired to wash a given wall or ceiling surface, it is merely necessary to pull upwardly on the buffers 64 at the ends of the arms 14 and 16. When the ball 72 releases each buffer, both units are removed thereby exposing the cylindrical washing member 46 above the upper end of such arms.

Suitable wax base washing solution can be employed with the washing member 46, and energization of the course of power effect rotation of member 46. This is accomplished by virtue of rotation of flexible cable 26 through gears 18 and 20. As shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, rotation of cable 26 causes worm gear 38 to rotate. Due to the cooperation of worm gear 38 and wheel 40 on shaft 42, the latter is rotated accordingly. The bearing member 44 rotates within the opening 300 of enclosure 30, and the end 42b of shaft 42 rotates within bearing member 52 as shown most clearly in FIGURE 5.

The entire housing 12 and other apparatus attached thereto may be moved back and forth across the surface being cleaned, even a remote surface such as a ceiling or the like. This, of course, is possible due to the fact that the washing member 46 is cylindrical and it is exposed beyond the arms 14 and 16 about a major portion of its cylindrical surface.

In the event it is desired to remove the washer member 46 from the apparatus, for cleaning or replacement, it is a simple matter to slide the sleeve 56 upwardly on hearing 52 as shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. When this occurs, the slot 52a in bearing member 52 is exposed thereby permitting shaft 42 to be rotated in its entirety about the vertical center line of enclosure 30. This, of course, removes end portion 4212 from within bearing member 52, the set screw 32 throughout such movement following in the groove 14a of arm 14.

The end 42a of shaft 42 can then be removed from enclosure 30, the opening 300 being of sufficient size to pass bearing 44 and wheel 40.

The reverse operation, of course, is employed for placing a new washing element 46 in the apparatus.

When it is desired to provide the buffing function, it is merely necessary to push the buffers 64 into position as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. This can be done with or without the washing element 46 in place. With the lower end portion of each link 66 firmly secured in the respective bearing member 34 or 62, rotation of cables 26 and 28 causes the links 66 and 68 as well as the plate 82 and bufiing surface 84 of each buffer to be rotated.

It will be noted from FIGURE 6 that the buffing surfaces of buffers 64 rotate in opposite directions due to the fact that gears 20 and 22 rotate in opposite directions in response to drive gear 18.

It should be noted that the bufiing elements 84 can be positioned against a fiat surface and thereafter the entire housing 12 can be pivoted back and forth to cause such buffers 64 to cover a larger surface. Throughout such operation the buffing surfaces remain flat against the surface, such action being due to the universal joints 70 and the compression springs '86. Such universal joints, of course, permit the links 68 and 66 to be constantly changing in their relative angular displacement while continuing to rotate. Thus, the link 68 remains at right angles to the surface being buffed while the link 66 moves with the pivotal movement of the housing 12.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a combination washer and buffer which is operable to wash and buff relatively remote surfaces.

Although we have shown and described certain specific embodiments of our invention, we are fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. Our invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A combination washer and buffer comprising in combination, an elongated housing having a source of power at one end thereof and being bifurcated at the other end providing a pair of housing arms, power transmission means connected to said source and extending to said bifurcated end of said housing, a cylindrical washer member rotatably mounted between said arms of the bifurcated end of said housing and connected to said transmission means to be driven by said power source, and a buffer element removably mounted on one of said arms and connected to said transmission means for rotation by said power source unless removed to permit said washer member to be used.

2. A combination washer and buffer according to claim 9, wherein said power transmission means is divided to extend along both of said housing arms, and a rotatable bufier element is provided at the end of each of said arms to rotate in opposite directions.

3. A combination washer and butter according to claim 2, wherein a flexible connection is provided between each buffer element and its respective housing arms to enable said bufier to conform to a given flat surface while said housing is reversely pivoted relative thereto.

4. A combination washer and buffer according to claim 3, wherein said power transmission means comprises a flexible cable extending along each housing arm to rotate the respective buffer element when attached thereto, the cable in at least one of said arms being operatively connected to said washing member to elfect rotation thereof.

5. A combination washer and buffer according to claim 4, wherein said flexible connection between each buifer element and its respective housing arm is removable with said element to enable said washing member to engage a surface to be washed as said elongated housing is pivoted.

6. A combination washer and butter according to claim 5, wherein one end of said housing is enlarged to provide an enclosure for said source of power.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,972,155 2/1961 Smith l550 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,481 1906 Great Britain.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

LEON G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examin r. 

